Information recorder, recording program and recording medium

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an information recording apparatus a recording program by which inputted data can be written only in a specific recording medium, and a recording medium in which the inputted data can be written. This information recording apparatus is at least provided with: a means for inputting the data; a means for extracting information for discriminating the recording medium from a specific area of the recording medium; and a means by which the extracted information and a predetermined information are compared to each other, and when the extracted information is coincident to the predetermined information, the inputted data is recorded in the recording medium.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an information recording apparatus forrecording inputted data, a recording program and a recording medium inwhich the inputted data is recorded.

BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY

Recently, various services relating to the photography are offered. Forexample, the user takes a picture by a digital camera, bring the digitalcamera in which an image data of a photo is recorded, or medium for thedigital camera in a photographic shop such as a mini-lab, and by usingan unmanned terminal device provided in the shop (KIOSK) or shopterminal device, the image data recorded in the digital camera or mediumcan be written in a recording medium such as a CD-R, DVD-R.

Further, the user takes a picture by a film camera, and when he bringsthe photographed film in a photographic shop such as a mini-lab, in thephotographic shop, after the film is developed, a service in which imagedata is read by using a reading device such as a scanner, and writes itin a recording medium such as a CD-R, DVD-R, and offers to the user, isalso conducted (For example, Tokkaihei No. 5-182373).

Further, a service in which a file format is converted so that imagedata read from the digital camera or medium, film can be reproduced byan image reproducing device, for example, such as a DVD player or DVDrecorder, and the initial image data and the converted image data arewritten in a recording medium such as a CD-R, DVD-R, is also conducted.

Then, the user inserts the recording medium in which the image data iswritten, into a personal computer, and by using an application programsuch as a slide-show program which is installed in the personalcomputer, display, edition, image processing of the image data areconducted, and he can use the image data by displaying the image data byinserting the recording medium into the image reproducing device.

For traders who offer the above described services, it is desirable thatthe data writing is conducted by using a recording medium such as aCD-R, or DVD-R, whose company offers, however, in a conventionalrecording medium, there is no medium in which information used in aprogram for controlling the writing of data is written, further, in aninformation recording apparatus, because there is no apparatus having afunction which controls the writing by using information written in therecording medium, data can be written in an arbitrary recording medium,as the result, the acceleration of the use of the recording medium whichis offered by the service offerer, can not be intended. Further, thisproblem is not limited to image data, but it is generated in the samemanner relating also to musical composition sound data, data such ascontents, application.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above-described problem, the main object of the presentinvention is to provide an information recording apparatus, a recordingprogram by which inputted data can be written only into a specificrecording medium and such a recording medium in which the inputted datacan be written.

In order to attain the above-object, an information recording apparatusof the present invention at least has: a means for inputting data; ameans for extracting information for discriminating a recording mediumfrom a specific area of the recording medium; and a means by which theextracted information and predetermined information are compared, andwhen the extracted information and predetermined information arecoincident to each other, the inputted data is recorded in the recordingmedium.

Further, the recording program of the present invention functions acomputer at least as a means for extracting information fordiscriminating a recording medium from a specific area of the recordingmedium; and a means by which the extracted information and predeterminedinformation are compared, and when the extracted information andpredetermined information are coincident to each other, the inputteddata is recorded in the recording medium.

In the present invention, the specific area can be an area outside thelogical address of a disk type recording medium.

Further, in the present invention, the data is one or a plurality ofdata selected from static image data, moving image data, musicalcomposition sound data, contents, application, and it is preferable thatthe data includes any one of data which is offered by an user, datapreviously stored in a memory means, or data which is down loadedthrough a communication network.

Further, the recording medium of the present invention is a medium inwhich the information which is used in a specific program and fordiscriminating the recording medium, is previously recorded in aspecific area.

In the present invention, the specific program can be a program whichrefers to the information and judges whether inputted data is recordedor not.

In this manner, in the recording medium of the present invention, theinformation which is used in the recording program and fordiscriminating the recording medium, is recorded in a specific area suchas outside the logical address area, and in the recording program or inthe information recording apparatus which functions by the recordingprogram, the information is extracted from the specific area of therecording medium, and because only when the information is coincident tothe predetermined information, the inputted data (image data, musicalcomposition sound data, contents, application) are recorded in therecording medium, the service offerer can intend the acceleration of theuse of the recording medium offered by his company.

That is, according to the information recording apparatus, recordingprogram and the recording medium of the present invention, the inputteddata can be recorded only into the specific recording medium.

The reason is a fact that, in the recording medium, the discriminatinginformation which is used in the specific recording program, fordiscriminating the recording medium is recorded in the specific area(for example, outside the logical address area to which an OS of thepersonal computer can not ordinarily access) and in the recordingprogram or in the information recording apparatus which functions by therecording program, the above-described discriminating information isextracted from the specific area of the recording medium, and only whenthe discriminating information is coincident to the previously recordedinformation, the inputted data (image data or musical composition sounddata, contents, application) is recorded. Then, when such a structure isprovided, the service offerer can intend the acceleration of the use ofthe recording medium whose company offers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an appearance view showing the structure of an informationrecording apparatus according to the first Example of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is an appearance view showing another structure of an informationrecording apparatus according to the first Example of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is an appearance view showing a yet another structure of aninformation recording apparatus according to the first Example of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is an appearance view showing a further yet another structure ofan information recording apparatus according to the first Example of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a function of an information recordingapparatus according to the first Example of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the manufacturing steps of the informationrecording medium by using the information recording apparatus accordingto the first Example of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual view showing an address area of the recordingmedium.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the structure of the recordingmedium (CD-R).

MOST PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FOR EXECUTING THE INVENTION

The recording program according to the present invention is, in itspreferred embodiment, a computer is made to function as data recordingmeans, a discrimination information extraction means for extractingdiscrimination information for discriminating a recording medium whichis used in the recording program from the specific area of the recordingmedium such as at least CD-R, DVD-R, and the extracted discriminationinformation and predetermined information are compared to each other,and when the discrimination information and the predeterminedinformation are coincident to each other, the computer is made tofunction as data recording means, the computer is made to function asdata recording means for recording the inputted data (static image data,moving image data, musical data, contents, application) in the recordingmedium, and when the above-described information is previously writtenin the specific area (preferably, outside the logical address area), theacceleration of the use of recording medium which is offered by theservice offerer can be intended.

EXAMPLE

In order to describe the above-embodiment in detail, referring to FIG. 1to FIG. 8, the information recording apparatus, recording program andrecording medium according to an example of the present invention willbe described.

Initially, referring to FIG. 1, the information recording apparatusaccording to an example of the present invention will be described.

An information recording apparatus 1 of the present example has a medialoading section 2 for loading a recording medium (hereinafter, calledmedia 8) for a digital camera such as a smart media, compact flash(registered trademark), memory stick (registered trademark), SD memorycard, multi-media card, or for a cell phone with a camera; a deviceconnection section 3 for connecting a photographic device (hereinafter,will be described as a digital camera 7) such as a digital camera 7 or acell phone 7 a with a camera by wiring, or wireless, infrared ray, adata input means such as a network connection section 17 by which datais down loaded from a server 19 through a communication network 18 suchas internet, a recording medium loading section 4 for loading arecording medium 9 such as CD-R or DVD-R in which data read from themedia 8 or the digital camera 7, or down-loaded data from the server 19(static image data, moving image data, musical composition sound data,contents, application, hereinafter, simply called data), is recorded, anoperation section 6 such as buttons, key-board, mouse, and a displaysection 5 such as LCD, CRT, (in the drawing, a touch-panel whichcombines the operation section 6 and the display section 5, is shown).

Further, the function of the information recording apparatus 1 is shownby a block diagram, FIG. 5. That is, it is provided with: a data inputmeans 10 by which, by using a media loading -section 2, deviceconnection section 3, network connection section 17, data is inputted;an operation means 11 such as a display section 5 or operation section6; a discriminating information extraction means 12 by which informationfor discriminating the recording medium 9 which can record data(hereinafter, called the discriminating information) is extracted from aspecific area (for example, outside the logical address area) of therecording medium 9; a data conversion means 13 for converting theinputted data (for example, static image data) into data (for example,the moving image data) of a format reproducible by an image reproducingdevice such as a DVD player or DVD recorder, at need; a data transfermeans 14 which controls data recording sequence; a data recording means15 which writes data transferred by the data transfer means 14 in therecording medium 9, when the discriminating information is coincident topredetermined information; and a memory means 16 in which the datawritten in the data recording means 15 is temporarily stored, and bywhich the data written in the recording medium 9 or the informationcompared to the discriminating information is stored. Each ofabove-described means may also be structured as a hardware, however, astructure in which a recording program by which the computer is made tofunction at least as the discriminating information extraction means 12,the data recording means 15 is installed in the information recordingapparatus 1 and executed, may also be allowable.

Hereupon, herein, in order to make the explanation easy, the datatransfer means 14 and the data recording means 15 are made separatedmeans for convenience, however, they may also be structured as onemeans. Further, in FIG. 1, the recording medium loading section 4 isused as a means for recording the data in the recording medium 9,however, the recording medium in which previously data such as thecontents is recorded, is loaded, and the section may also be used as ameans for inputting data from the recording medium. Further, in FIG. 1,the kiosk type information recording apparatus 1 which can be placed inshops such as the photographic shop or convenience store is written,however, the form of the information recording apparatus 1 is arbitrary,for example, as shown in FIG. 2, it is made as an exclusive set top box,as shown in FIG. 3, it may also be made as a portable writer, as shownin FIG. 4, a personal computer provided with a slot for loading media 8,a terminal for connecting the digital camera 7, a drive for writing thedata in the recording medium 9, or DVD recorder may also be used.

The sequence of recording the data offered by an user in the recordingmedium 9, will be described referring the flowchart of FIG. 6, by usingthe information recording apparatus 1 structured as described above.Hereupon, in the following, a case where 2 kinds of data are recorded inthe recording medium 9 so that read data can be looked by both apersonal computer and an image reproducing device, is shown, however, acase where the data reproducible by only one device is recorded in therecording medium 9 can also be applied in the same manner.

Initially, in step S101, together with a case where the media 8 isloaded in the media loading section 2 of the information recordingapparatus 1, or, the digital camera 7 is connected to the deviceconnection section 3, or the network connection section 17 is connectedto the communication network 18, the recording medium 9 in which thediscrimination information is previously recorded in the specific area,is loaded into the recording medium loading section 4. This recordingmedium 9 may also be purchased in a shop at which the informationrecording apparatus 1 is placed, or may also be purchased in anothershop, or the recording medium 9 which is previously purchased and datais written in, may also be used again.

Next, in step S102, the discriminating information extraction means 12extracts the discriminating information for discriminating the recordingmedium 9 which is used in the recording program, from the specific areaof the recording medium 9. This discriminating information may also havebeen recorded in any area of the recording medium, however, when it isrecorded in an area (logical address area) accessible by OS of apersonal computer, there is a possibility that the discriminatinginformation is re-written, or the discriminating information is copiedunfairly.

Herein, referring to FIG. 8, when a general structure of the recordingmedium 9 (CD-R) is described, CD-R is formed when, on a poly-carbonatesubstrate 100, an organic pigment layer 101 such as cyanin,phthalo-cyanine, azo, and a reflection layer 102 such as silver, and aprotective layer 103 are laminated, and pits 104 are formed when a laserbeam of a predetermined power is irradiated on the organic pigment layer101, and the pigment is dissolved and the substrate is deformed, and therecording of the information is conducted.

Because the optimum value of laser beam power is different correspondingto the system of a laser head irradiating the laser beam or the kind ofthe organic pigment layer 101, it is necessary for the head drive torecognize what pigment is used for manufacturing CD-R, in order tosecurely conduct the writing, reading of the information. Therefore, theinformation such as the kind of the pigment used for the CD-R or thename of the manufacturer for manufacturing the CD-R is written in itsinnermost periphery on the manufacturing stage of the recording medium9, the information is read by a firm-ware of the drive, and thefirm-ware individually controls the laser head and conducts theadjustment of the laser power. In this manner, the area of the innermostperiphery of the disk is used as an area which the information relatingto the origin of CD-R is recorded, ordinarily, because the area is anarea to which the OS of a personal computer can not access, in thepresent Example, it is structured in such a manner that, in this area(outside the logical address), the discriminating information of therecording medium 9 is written, and the altering of the discriminatinginformation itself or its copy can not be conducted.

As described above, when the discriminating information used in therecording program is written in the outside logical address area of therecording medium 9, the recording medium 9 which is offered by theservice offerer can be differentiated from another recording medium.Hereupon, the content of this discriminating information is not limited,however, for example, the name of manufacturer, software name, the nameof kind of device which can correspond to, can be written, and theManufacture code which is pressed in CD-R, DVD±R/RW, DVD-RAM, may alsobe used, or the special area (a specially prepared area so that theinformation can be written) in the disk standard may also be used, or aunique structure so that the discriminating information are notduplicated by a plurality of recording media, may also be adopted, atleast it is allowable in the cases where it can be used when therecording program judges whether inputted data is recorded. Further,this discriminating information may also be allowed when it is recordedin a format which the recording program can recognize, and when it isrecorded as the data having no file format, the alteration of thediscriminating information itself or its copy can be effectivelyprevented. Furthermore, the discriminating information may also bewritten by using an exclusive device by the service offerer after themanufacturing of the recording medium 9, however, in order to make thereading of the discriminating information sure, it is preferable that itis buried-in by the pre-press at the time of the manufacturing of therecording medium 9.

Then, in step S103, the discriminating information extracted from therecording medium 9 and the information stored in the memory means 16 arecompared, and when the discriminating information is coincident to thepredetermined information, in step S104, by using the data input means10, the data recorded in the digital camera 7 or media 8 or the datarecorded in the server 19, the data (static image data, moving imagedata, musical data, contents, application are included. Herein, it isassumed that it is a static image data recorded in the digital camera 7,or media 8) stored in the memory means 16 are read.

Hereupon, not only judging whether the discriminating information isrecorded in the specific area of the recording medium 9 (for example,outside the logical address area), but judging whether thediscriminating information is coincident to the predeterminedinformation, is for the reason that there is a case where theinformation for discriminating recording medium (for example, theinformation of the manufacturer of the recording medium) is recorded ina specific area in the other recording medium. Accordingly, even a casewhere a discriminating information for discriminating the recordingmedium 9 is recorded in a specific area, the discriminating informationis not an information used in the recording program, that is, when thediscriminating information is not coincident to the predeterminedinformation, the inputted data is not recorded.

Next, at need, in step S105, the static image data read by using thedata conversion means 13 is converted into another file format data(herein, the moving image data of a format of the MPEG 1, MPEG 2, V-CDformat data, DVD-Video format data). Although a method for producing themoving image data from the static image data is not particularlylimited, for example, when the static image data is displayed as in aslide show, the data of the difference 0 for the slide display time isadded to the static image data, and the moving image data is generated,or the differential data based on the slide-effect set in the slide showprogram is added to the static image data, and the moving image data canbe generated. Hereupon, when the image data for the image reproducingdevice is not made, this step is not necessary. Further, when a case ismade so that the original data or the data converted into for the imagereproducing device is not unlimitedly used, at need, it may also beallowable that all of them or a part of them are scrambled, and can bereproduced only by the specific program.

Next, when the data for the image reproducing device is produced, instep S106, the data transfer means 14 transfers the data converted bythe data conversion means 13 or the relating data (hereinafter, they arenamed generically the data group for image reproducing device) to apredetermined folder for writing, previously provided in the memorymeans 16. Then, the data recording means 15 reads the data group forimage reproducing device from the folder, and records it inside thelogical address area. Herein, when it is recorded in CD-R by using MPEG1 or MPEG 2 as the image format of the moving image data, the recordingmedium 9 of Video-CD format can be produced, and when it is recorded inDVD-R by using MPEG 2 as the image format of the moving image data, therecording medium 9 of DVD-Video format can be produced.

Next, in step S107, the data recording means 15 closes the session atonce, before the data for personal computer is recorded, in order todivide the area of the data which can use in the image reproducingdevice.

Next, in step S108, the data transfer means 14 transfers the inputteddata, application for slide-displaying the static image data, thesetting data of the slide show (hereinafter, they are named genericallythe data group for the personal computer) to a predetermined folder forwriting previously provided in the memory means 16. Then, the datarecording means 15 reads the data group for the personal computer fromthe folder, and records it in outside the data group for the imagereproducing device previously recorded in the recording medium 9, and aseries of writing processing is completed.

The recording medium 9 produced in the above sequence is as shown inFIG. 7, and outside the logical address area which is innermost of thedisk type recording medium 9, a predetermined format (preferably, thedata having no file format) discrimination information is previouslyrecorded, and inside the logical address area of its outside, the datagroup for the image reproducing device is recorded, and further itsoutside, the data group for the personal computer is recorded.

Hereupon, in the above step, although the data transfer means 14controls the writing order so that it can be read by both of thepersonal computer, and the image reproducing device, when the order ofthe writing is not mentioned, any side data may also be written earlier.Further, in the above step, it is structured in such a manner that, instep S101, after loading of the media 8 and connection of the digitalcamera 7 are conducted, in step S102, the discriminating information isextracted, however, initially the recording medium 9 is loaded into therecording medium loading section 4, the discriminating information isrecorded in the recording medium 9, and when the discriminatinginformation is coincident to the predetermined information, it may alsobe allowable that the loading of the media 8 and connection of thedigital camera 7 are required.

As described above, in the recording medium 9 of the present Example,the discriminating information used in the recording program ispreviously written in the specific area (preferably outside the logicaladdress area), and in the recording program or the information recordingapparatus 1 which functions in the recording program, the discriminatinginformation is extracted from the recording medium 9, and because onlywhen the discriminating information is coincident to the predeterminedinformation, the inputted data is recorded, the service offerer canforce the recording medium 9 which is offered by his company to be used,and can intend the acceleration of use of the recording medium 9.

Hereupon, in the above each Example, the case where the data read fromthe digital camera 7 or media 8, film is written in the recording medium9, is shown, however, the present invention is not limited to the aboveExamples, and also for a case where the arbitrary data is written in therecording medium 9 or memory means, the present invention can be appliedin the same manner.

INDUSTRIAL AVAILABLENESS

According to the information recording apparatus, recording program andrecording medium of the present invention, discriminating informationfor discriminating the recording medium, which is used in a specificrecording program, is recorded in a specific area (for example, outsidea logical address area to which can not be ordinarily accessed in the OSof a personal computer), and in the recording program or in theinformation recording apparatus which functions by the recordingprogram, because the discriminating information is extracted from thespecific area of the recording medium, only when the discriminatinginformation is coincident to previously stored information, inputteddata (image data or musical composition sound data, contents,application) is recorded, the inputted data can be recorded only in thespecific recording medium. Then, when such a system is provided, theservice offerer can intends the acceleration of the use of the recordingmedium which is offered by his company.

1. An information recording apparatus which is characterized in that it is at least provided with: a means for inputting data; a means for extracting an information for discriminating a recording medium from a specific area of the recording medium; a means for recording the inputted data in the recording medium when the extracted information and a predetermined information are compared, and the extracted information is coincident to the predetermined information.
 2. The information recording apparatus written in claim 1, wherein the specific area is an area outside the logical address area of a disk type recording medium.
 3. The information recording apparatus written in claim 1 , wherein the data is 1 or a plurality of data selected from static image data, moving image data, musical composition sound data, contents, application, and the data includes any one of data offered by an user, data previously stored in a memory means, or data which is down-loaded through a communication network.
 4. A recording program which is characterized in that: it functions a computer at least as a means for extracting an information for discriminating a recording medium from a specific area of the recording medium, a means for recording an inputted data by comparing the extracted information with a predetermined information, and when the extracted information is coincident to the predetermined information.
 5. The recording program written in claim 4, wherein the specific area is an area outside the logical address area of a disk type recording medium.
 6. The recording program written in claim 4, wherein the data is 1 or a plurality of data selected from static image data, moving image data, musical composition sound data, contents, application, and the data includes any one of data offered by an user, data previously stored in a memory means, or data which is down-loaded through a communication network.
 7. A recording medium which is characterized in that information for discriminating the recording medium, which is used in a specific program, is previously recorded in a specific area.
 8. The recording medium written in claim 7, wherein the specific program is a program which, referring to the information, judges whether the inputted data is recorded.
 9. The recording medium written in claim 7, wherein the specific area is an area outside the logical address area of a disk type recording medium. 